As Broadway awaits the Nov. 15 opening of The Price, in a staging transferred from MA's Williamstown Theatre Festival, St. Petersberg, FL will get its own version of Arthur Miller's family drama. The Price, directed by Victoria Holloway, plays Nov. 5-28 at American Stage.

As Broadway awaits the Nov. 15 opening of The Price, in a staging transferred from MA's Williamstown Theatre Festival, St. Petersberg, FL will get its own version of Arthur Miller's family drama. The Price, directed by Victoria Holloway, plays Nov. 5-28 at American Stage.

The 1967 tale of two brothers rooting through their dead father's belongings -- and kicking up emotional dust -- was chosen by artistic director Ken Mitchell because, "It's fascinating to see the contrast between the lives these characters have made for themselves and the lives they might have lived if they had followed their early dreams and aspirations."

The play deals in Miller's strong suit: Shuffling through the emotional detritus of sibling rivalry and familial bitterness. When the siblings reunite, the poor-policeman brother, Victor (David Vining), who stayed attached to the family, upbraids his rich-doctor brother (Kim Bennett), who abandoned their father. Ronald J. Aulgur plays an aged furniture dealer; Elizabeth Dimon is Victor's wife.

Pat Hingle and Arthur Kennedy played the brothers in the Broadway original in the 1967-68 season. Miller was nominated for a 1968 Tony Award for his play, but the prize went to Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.The Price also had a Broadway staging by the Roundabout Theatre Company (at the Criterion Center) in 1992-93. Directed by John Tillinger, it starred Hector Elizondo, Eli Wallach, Debra Mooney and Joe Spano. It was nominated for the Best Revival Tony Award.

For tickets and information on The Price at American Stage, 211 Third Street South in St. Petersburg, call (727) 823-PLAY. -- By David Lefkowitz & Kenneth Jones